Policy Address

Establish a Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units

94. The issue of SDUs stems from the prolonged shortage of land and public housing, which is very complicated and requires meticulous planning to resolve. The Government has been increasing the overall supply of public and private housing. In particular, the supply of PRH units in the coming decade will exceed the supply target projected in the LTHS, making it an opportune time to resolve this long-standing problem.

95. There are currently about 220 000 people living in around 110 000 SDUs. According to a preliminary survey, many SDUs offer undesirable living conditions, and most occupants are awaiting PRH allocation. That said, certain SDUs offer a slightly better living environment, and some occupants therein may have higher incomes and even possess properties, having opted to live in SDUs because of the convenient locations for going to work or study.

96. I will establish a Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units, led by the Deputy Financial Secretary, with the Secretary for Housing as deputy. I will assign the task force to study the issue in detail, presenting recommendations along the following directions in 10 months' time:

  1. set the minimum standards of living conditions for SDUs in terms of their building safety, fire safety and hygiene requirements, living space, etc.;

  2. suggest measures to eradicate substandard SDUs;

  3. prevent the resurgence of substandard SDUs; and

  4. put forward solutions to address the problem in an orderly manner, covering necessary administrative and legislative proposals.